Is anyone planning to do NaNoWriMo this year? (For anyone who doesn't know, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. It runs during November of each year with the goal of writing a 50,000 novel by the end of the month.) I've never done it before, but given my absolute lack of productivity with my WIP, I've actually been thinking of undertaking the challenge to motivate myself to make some progress. If anyone else is planning to do it, we should form a support group and spur each other on. :)

Hattie - October 26, 2011 02:44 PM (GMT)

Iíve been thinking about doing it, but I have so much school work at the moment, and I donít know if I could motivate myself enough to do it. But then it would be such good practice, even if I donít actually finish, so I donít knooow. Iíve been dithering for ages Ė I think I just need someone to convince me to sign up! :)

(Actually, maybe coming across this thread is a sign...)

And if I do join, a support group is an awesome idea, Ariadne! I think it's unlikely that I'll finish because I have so little time, but I'm even less likely to if I'm doing it on my own.

Bex - October 26, 2011 03:07 PM (GMT)

I'd love to, but I don't have an original bone in my body. I'd love for there to be some sort of Downton Big Bang for that very reason.

I'd love to read anything you come up with though, Ariadne and Hattie :D

Hattie - October 26, 2011 03:15 PM (GMT)

What is a Big Bang? I've heard of it before but I have no idea what it is.

EDIT: Also, Bex, you CAN write fanfic for NaNoWriMo, I just checked *is not going to demean self by begging for a Corah epic*

Vero - October 26, 2011 03:49 PM (GMT)

I did Nanowrimo 2 years ago and I loved it so much! My story was an embarassing romantic one I still kinda feel ashamed of but I had tons of fun writing it, so yay!

Last year I planned to write a post-apocalyptic epic but I was so swamped with uni work that I didn't get past the first few pages.

Sadly, this year is even busier so I doubt I can do it. :(

But I recommend it to everyone who has the time it's so much fun!

Julia - October 26, 2011 03:51 PM (GMT)

I'm thinking about NaNoWriMo but I'm not sure. I have quite a lot of schoolwork in November and I've only got a couple of vague story ideas in my head, nothing concrete.

Rosalinde - October 26, 2011 04:20 PM (GMT)

I'm *unofficially* doing it because I know for a fact I'll fail to hit 50,000 words of Corah and Cora/Roberty goodness....

Ruth - October 26, 2011 05:13 PM (GMT)

I'm doing it!

Bex - October 26, 2011 05:17 PM (GMT)

YOU CAN WRITE FANFIC?

Ariadne - October 26, 2011 05:35 PM (GMT)

Yes! You can write fanfic (which is what I am doing) and you're supposed to start from scratch, but I'm loosely interpreting that (I'm continuing my fanfic and just not including already written chapters towards the word count).

Yay Ruth and Rosalinde! *gives out high fives*

And Hattie, Julia and Bex...you know you are tempted... :D

Hattie - October 26, 2011 06:19 PM (GMT)

Okay, I've just signed up *flails*. I will regret my lack of self-control in the morning, but right now it's so exciting! And I'll be doing fanfic as well, although I haven't completely decided on the plot yet.

Well, I have an MC, and the basics of a fantasy plot, but I'm kind of havig to wait and see where it goes really.

Rosalinde - October 27, 2011 08:23 AM (GMT)

So... since I did it last year. Here's a few tips:

1. Be prepared to be INSANE for a month. It'll drive you completely bat-shit but you'll feel like a winner when it's done.

2. CAFFIENE!! (I may have mis-spelt that, little bit tipsy).

3. Sleep! Try to hit 500 words day by day but for the love of god, sleep, else it'll get really messy, trust me.

4. Relax. You'll feel crazy for doing it but find your space and write, doesn't even matter if you end up doing it naked. Trust me.

Hattie - October 27, 2011 09:40 AM (GMT)

Thanks for the hints, Rosalinde! Iím sure they will come in useful when Iím going insane in mid-November :)

Ruth, I am completely in awe of you attempting an original novel Ė I canít write anything other than fanfic, so kudos to you.

And Mei, please please please do a Sybil/Branson epic! Even if you donít get it done in the month you could always finish it later, and whatever you write is sure to be amazing.

Four and a bit days to go, everyone!

Rosalinde - October 27, 2011 11:46 PM (GMT)

Hold onto your hats ladies and gents... the ride is cranking up to begin.

Oh and your welcome for the hints/tips Hattie et al!

Ariadne - October 28, 2011 01:14 AM (GMT)

Thanks for starting the DA group, Evangeline! I shall be joining shortly.

Ruth, I'm so excited you're writing a fantasy story! I really wish I had the talent to do attempt something like that.

Mei, I must add my pleas as well! I do hope you decide to jump on board. I probably also won't finish in one month, so you'll have company there. And we really do need some S/B goodness...

So 50k words over 30 days is about 1,667 each day. Or 2,000 a day if I want to give myself a buffer for days when I won't have time. Doable...right?

Thanks for the tips, Rosalinde!

Vero - October 28, 2011 07:51 AM (GMT)

Good luck to all of you who decided to do Nano this year. :)

As for tips,

1. As Ariadne said, if you have time and inspiration, write more than 1,667 words a day because there will be days when you won't be able to write anything and it's very frustrating playing catch up for days. (Been there, done that.)

2. This is not the time when you should analyze every sentence you wrote, the point is you get to 50,000 and then after Nano ends you can edit your fic and make changes.

3. If you have writer's block, there is this funny online program you can use which basically forces you to write the amount of words you set it up to, and if you stop, it punishes you. :P It really helped me a lot, because even if I started to write incoherent ramblings, at least I got into writing mood.

4. Forget uni or work for a month. 5. Use the writing buddy system on the Nano site or the DA writing group because there is nothing better than healthy competition when it comes to word count.

Bex - October 28, 2011 09:30 AM (GMT)

I have my plot! It's suitably angsty and Cora and Sarah will suffer.

Bex - October 28, 2011 10:58 AM (GMT)

Anybody know what genre I should classify a fanfic novel under?

Vero - October 28, 2011 11:08 AM (GMT)

QUOTE (Bex @ Oct 28 2011, 12:58 PM)

Anybody know what genre I should classify a fanfic novel under?

They don't distinguish between an original novel and a fanfic novel so you can pretty much classify it under the genre you would if you wrote an original one.

Ariadne - October 28, 2011 06:43 PM (GMT)

Thanks for the tips, Vero!

I've also been warned to not wait till the last minute to submit my draft to the Nano word count program. Apparently it might count differently than MS Word or other software and stories abound of people who were 1,000 words short without enough time to add to their story. (Of course, I might not even get close to 50,000 words, so it might not matter!)

So I've finished chapter 3 of my WIP, which marks the end of part 1, so I feel like I'm in a suitably good place to start my Nano project. I'll be spending the next few days desperately doing some last minute research and expanding my already overlong timeline into a proper phase outline so hopefully I can just write when Nov 1st comes. I'm slowly getting a bit excited! :)

Rosalinde - October 28, 2011 07:28 PM (GMT)

LOL, poor Corah really will suffer!!

Also, please don't judge me but I'm adapting poor Jane for a different use... namely miss Edith. The other two... could be interesting.

Ellie - October 29, 2011 05:56 PM (GMT)

Against my better judgement, I have signed up! When the writing buddy doodah comes into play, I'm daringnerveandchivalry. I'm writing what could loosely be called a modern AU. The protagonists are two boys called Thomas and Louis (which clearly you would NEVER HAVE GUESSED but tbh I just stole their names) and there are other characters loosely based on characters from DA, but mainly from the many modern AUs that have spawned from the forum.

Ariadne - October 29, 2011 06:59 PM (GMT)

Woooooohooooo! I'm so glad you've been sucked in and I really hope we get to read this Thomas/Louis story at the end. :)

Hattie - October 29, 2011 08:15 PM (GMT)

Thanks for the tips, Vero and Ariadne, Iíll bear them in mind; lucky I found out about the word count giving you a different score, otherwise there could have been a disaster at the end of November.

Yay, Ellie! Iím so happy youíve signed up (and are writing Thomas and Louis, even if they arenít strictly DA style) and Iím really excited to read what you come up with.

Iíve finally sorted out my outline notecard doodahs and Iím pretty much ready to go, although getting a bit nervous - Iím writing a Gwen/Sybil fic covering Series One and then as far after that as I need to go to make up the word count. Iíve been planning for a while but never got my butt into gear to write it, so it seemed like a good opportunity; I honestly have no idea if Iíll finish it or get anywhere because I have limited writing time. Iím so looking forward to it all, though, and I will be stalking everyoneís profiles for extracts of their novels once we start!

Bex - October 29, 2011 09:11 PM (GMT)

Oh dude, you're writing Gwen/Sybil! This makes me so absurdly happy.

Rosalinde - October 30, 2011 04:21 AM (GMT)

We have such wicked writwers here guys.... We ready for the cray-cray?

Ariadne - November 1, 2011 12:02 AM (GMT)

THE HOUR HAS COME!!! Happy NoNoWriMo-ing!

Good luck everyone! So happy to share this experience with you talented writers. Now go write! :D

Rosalinde - November 1, 2011 01:58 AM (GMT)

God, so nervous!!

Bex - November 1, 2011 11:26 AM (GMT)

Hi darlings! How's it all going? Up to 500 words atm and feeling rather proud of myself, though I clearly have a long way to go! Most of those 500 words are "sod" "bugger" "bloody" and "git" though. Sarah has a lot to get off her chest, and she hasn't even started on 'er Majesty yet.

I set up a TC specifically for NaNo, so feel free to pop in. The address is http://tinychat.com/nanowrimoda. If you're not writing though and still want to join the chat, feel free!